MARTINSTOWN stand-in captain Will Maltby believes his side has the talent to upset Dorchester in their Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League derby tomorrow (1pm).
Maltby’s men welcome three-time champions Dorchester to Lower Ashton Farm in good form, having won four out of their last five games.
Town are consequently going into the match in confident mood, with Maltby fancying the hosts’ chances of beating the league’s second-placed team.
He told Echosport: “We’re missing a few players this week but we’ve got a lot of talent. Hopefully they can take their chance.
READ MORE: Martinstown beat Christchurch by seven wickets
“We’re on a good run and we were unlucky against Poole. We can be a match for any side in the league. We’ve definitely got the talent.
“Man for man, we’re not far away from Dorchester. It’s always a competitive duel between the sides and it should be good fun.”
Meanwhile, Dorchester skipper Jon Legg, who played in Dorset’s three-day draw at Cornwall this week, believes Dorchy’s good recent against Town gives them a “slight boost”.
He said: “Every game is a test, they pose just as much of a threat as any other team. We know they’ll come at us pretty hard but they’ll give us chances.
“It’s OK having a good record against a team but those games are in the past. It’ll give us a slight boost knowing we perform well against them but records mean nothing on the day.”
Martinstown are without skipper Charlie Durant but seamer Chris Read returns to the line-up.
At the time of writing, Dorchester were yet to confirm their team.
Martinstown Seconds visit Marnhull Seconds in County Division Four. Dorchester Seconds and Thirds host Royal Challengers and Verwood Thirds in Divisions Three and Five respectively (all 1pm tomorrow).
Martinstown: S Williams, Lewis, Maltby, S Gerety, T Pope, F Williams, Kane, R Gerety, Read, Trotter, J Gerety.
Elsewhere in the Premier, Bere Regis tomorrow (1pm) play host to bottom side Christchurch, winners of just one game in 11 this season.
Bere, in fourth, are looking to capitalise if the top three slip up, but skipper Brian Keegan urged his side to take care of their own game first.
He said: “You look at the table and on paper it’s an easy game. We’ve had some indifferent results this year.
“If you look at Christchurch against Broadstone, they hit 300-plus and ended up winning quite comfortably. We can’t count our chickens.
“We performed badly against Broadstone. This week we can’t be complacent and we need a win. We need to do the basics, especially in the field. Christchurch could be a potential banana skin if we take them lightly.”
Bere are without Pete Russell and Dave Griffiths, with Rob Murphy and Gordon Fraser coming in.
Bere Seconds visit Kingston Lacy in Division Three tomorrow (1pm).
Bere: Rich Cole, J Keegan, S Goodhew, T Goodhew, Robertson, Munnings, Murphy, Fraser, Rogerson, B Keegan, Walbridge.
Bere main sponsor: Booth Gadenne.
Bere first XI ball sponsor: Bere Regis Dental Practice.
Bere second XI ball sponsor: Dorset Reclamation.
In Division One, Puddletown have a stiff task against leaders Witchampton at Plush tomorrow (1pm).
The Kingfishers are precariously placed in eighth, seven points above Beaminster in the standings.
On the Witches, skipper Ryan Norman said: “They’ve been playing some good cricket, had some good results and they’re sitting at the top.
“We’ll have to be on our game to try and turn them over. We’re confident we can beat them at our place. They’re a different side away compared to home.”
Puddletown Seconds visit Lytchett in Division Five tomorrow (1pm).
Puddletown: Re Norman, Ry Norman, Barrett, Weir, Snow, J Morris, D Morris, Allen, C Chaldecott, S Chaldecott, Eccleson.
Elsewhere in Division One, Portland Red Triangle visit Wimborne Seconds while their second team host Winton Seconds in Division Five (both 1pm tomorrow).
Looking to keep up their pursuit of promotion out of Division Two, Weymouth face Sherborne Seconds at Redlands tomorrow (1pm).
The Seasiders are 30 points behind leaders Corfe Mullen and only seven adrift of Shaftesbury, in second, going into the weekend.
Captain Lloyd Beals said: “Every game is tough, every team in this league has a match winner. Admittedly, some teams have more than others.
“We go into every game with the mindset of scoring 250-plus and backing ourselves to defend or take ten wickets for less than 150 and chase comfortably against anyone.”
Division Five leaders Weymouth Seconds visit Wimborne Fourths tomorrow (1pm).
Weymouth: England, Beals, B Lawes, Womble, Wills, Whyte, Tarry, Tonkin, Urumancheri, Pearce, Hoyes.
Matchday sponsor: Active Mobility.
Player sponsor: Advoco Accountants.
Ground renovation sponsor: GRBS.
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